For 16-year-old Sarah Jewkes, it was the perfect opportunity.
"Being a hairdresser is something I've always wanted to do, ever since I was little and when this program came up, I jumped right at it,î the Grade 11 Olds High School student said.
Sarah was one of the first dozen area high school students taking part in the new, unique hairstylist trade pre-employment apprenticeship program in Olds offered through the Campus Alberta Central (CAC) partnership between Olds College and Red Deer College as well as Chinook's Edge School Division.
The new program launched on Feb. 14 in the Community Learning Campus's cosmetology laboratory and, for its first year, offers high school students the chance to earn credits towards apprenticeship training and their high school transcripts.
Dan Daley, dean of Olds College's school of trades, said the program is the first of its kind in Canada as the curriculum is taught in a "blended learning forum,î with some studies online, some studies in a traditional classroom setting and some hands-on work in a laboratory.
The program was developed following a survey conducted in the school division several years ago that found while there was a large interest in male-dominated trades, there were no trade options for girls.
"We found in the past that there's been a need for an opportunity for ladies to get into a dual-credit opportunity,î Daley said, adding once the new hairstyling course was offered, interest within the school division skyrocketed.
"The evidence is here today in that when we started this pilot project up, we advertised (within the schools) two weeks ago and we're at full enrolment.î
Daley said in its pilot year, the program is divided into two parts, with the first part wrapping up at the end of the school yearówhen students can take the summer to work in salons or related businesses if they chooseó and the second part picks up in September.
If students want to continue on, he added, they can take a second year of classroom and practical study, work towards meeting the required apprenticeship hours and then write examinations to find employment as stylists.
Next year, the plan is to expand the class into a full apprenticeship program, which would include adults.
Lee Cenaiko will instruct the program while continuing to run Zebedee'z International Hair Design in Carstairs.
Pointing out she has 25 years of experience, she said the girls in the program this year will learn "the whole nine yardsî of the trade.
"They're going to learn professionalism, they're going to learn sanitation, they're going to learn shampoo, conditioning, massages, scalp, elementary cutting, colouring, perming.î
Beyond the costs of materials and books, the CAC partnership is funding the entire project.
"Being a hair dresser is something I've always wanted to do, ever since I was little and when this program came up, I jumped right at it."Sarah Jewkes, Grade 11 OHS student
